Meter: 8.6.8.6 Appears in 3 hymnals Scripture: Luke 15:13-25 First Line: The wretched prodigal behold Lyrics:
The wretched prodigal behold
in mis’ry lying low,
Whom vice had sunk from high estate,
and plunged in want and woe.
While I, despised and scorned, he cries,
starve in a foreign land,
The meanest in my father’s house
is fed with bounteous hand:
I’ll go, and with a mourning voice,
fall down before his face:
Father! I’ve sinned ‘gainst Heav’n and thee,
nor can deserve thy grace.
He said, and hastened to his home,
to seek his father’s love;
The father sees him from afar,
and all his bowels move.
He ran, and fell upon his neck,
embraced and kissed his son:
The grieving prodigal bewailed
the follies he had done.
No more, my father, can I hope
to find paternal grace;
My utmost wish is to obtain
a servant’s humble place.
Bring forth the fairest robe for him,
the joyful father said;
To him each mark of grace be shown,
and ev’ry honour paid.
A day of feasting I ordain;
let mirth and song abound:
My son was dead, and lives again!
was lost, and now is found!
Thus joy abounds in paradise
among the hosts of heav’n,
Soon as the sinner quits his sins,
repents, and is forgiv’n.
Luke 15:13-25: The wretched prodigal behold